Explosive composition comprising ammonium nitrate and a mixture of higher boron hydrides



3,135,635 EXPLOSTVE COMPOSITION CQMPRISHNG AM- MONIUM NITRATE AND A HIGHER BORON HYDRIDES James S. Logan and Joel A. Zaslowslty, bridge, COHXL, assignors, by mesne ommercial Solvents Corporation,

Maryland No Drawing. Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 106,456

3 Claims. (Cl. 14922) MIXTURE F both of Woodassignments, to a corporation of detonated effectively cap.

Another object of this invention is to provide ammonium nitrate explosive compositions of greatly increased power.

Another object of this invention is to provide ammoniexplosive compositions not dependent upon high explosives or metallic components for their successful The pyrolysis of diborane to form higher boron hydrides well known. The operation can be carried out, for example, at a pressure within the range from 0 to 100 p.s.i.g., at a temperature within the range from 150 C. to 300 C. and with a residence time in the pyrolysis zone of from about 1 second to 6 seconds. The diborane The US. Patent 2,983,590). The yellow solid is in general chemically inert and resists efforts to convert it into readily useable chemical compounds. Sometimes, over 50 percent of the end product of the diborane pyrolysis consists borane-9 and decaborane.

Fertilizer grade as well as explosive grade ammonium nitrate can be used in the composition of this invention.

tions are substantially Patented June 2, 1964 chalk, etc., in addition to a moisture content ranging up to about 2.0 percent.

The novel explosive compositions of. this invention are prepared by admixing particulate ammonium nitrate with contain from about 2 to about 22 percent by Weight of yellow solid.

of the ammonium nitrate utilized is not however, ammonium nitrate having a particle size that ammonium nitrate-yellow solid explosive composimore powerful than conventional ammonium nitrate-hydrocarbon oil explosives when tested under the same conditions.

The following examples illustrate various embodiments of this invention and are to be considered not limitative.

EXAMPLE I Yellow solid in the amount of 13.8 grams (particle size, percent through 100 mesh) was added to a cylindrical vessel containing 186.2 grams (particle size, 100 percent through 40 mesh) of ammonium nitrate. The vessel and contents were then tumble rolled to provide an intimate mixture of the two ingredients. tion so prepared contained 6.9 weight.

the field. Detonation was achieved by means of a No. 6 Electric Blasting Cap. The charge as tested was packaged in a cylindrical paper container having a diameter of about 2.5 inches. The container with the charge was placed in a suitable hole in such a formation that is broken up, it does give an indication of the Work potential of the mixture detonated. The result of the firing test is given in Table I.

EXAMPLES II AND III Two additional explosive compositions, both containing 6.9 percent yellow solid by weight, were prepared in the EXAMPLES 1V VIII In order to compare the novel of this invention with conventional ammonium nitratedetonated by means The compositions of 3 f an Engineer Special Blasting Cap. the explosive charges prepared in well as the results of firing tests Examples IVA/111 as ammonium conducted with these materials are also recorded in by weight based 0 Table 1. 5

. Table 1 STING OF AMMQN ITION FIELD TE IUM NITRATE EXPLOSIVE COMPOS Explosive Composition Crater Yellow Kerosene Ammonium D etonator Volume olld (percent Nitrate (inches) (percent by weight) (percent by weight) by weight) 6. 9 0 1 93.1 No. 6 Electric 490 Blasting Cap. 6.9 0 93.1 .do 450 6. 9 0 1 93.1 Engineer Special 960 Blasting Cap. 0 5. 5 1 04. 5 (lo 190 0 5.0 1 05.0 d0 300 0 5.5 2 94.5 (10 570 0 5.5 2 94.5 -d0 510 0 5. 5 2 04. 5 No. 6 Electric Blasting Cap.

1 Granular ammonium nitrate. Particle size-100 percent through mesh.

2 Prilled ammonium nitrate.

Average diameter-41.060 to 0.070 inch. 3 Explosive composition did not detonate.

EXAMPLES IX-XII A number of additional ammon explosive compositions were prepared and tested for impact sensitivity. A one to two gram sample of each particular explosive composition was prepared. Granular. ammonium nitrate and yellow solid (particle size of both ingredients, 100 percent through 40 mesh) were used'in all instances. The compositions were mixed by rotating the ingredients in small vials for several minutes.

The impact sensitivity determinations reported in Table 2 which follows 'Were conducted using a drop Weight tester. The material to be tested was placedin a sample cup and covered with a thin (0.011 inch) stainless steel disc. This was done to prevent actual contact between I the sample and the hammer thus eliminating the necessity of cleaning the hammer after each impact. The' sample ium nitrate-yellow solid mixture of was placed in the tester, the weight was dropped from a measured height and the effect of impact noted. The UNITED STATES PATENTS Weight was raised or lowered to determine the height at I V a 5 which explosion occurred in three out of every six sam- I $23323 1927 ples tested. F I j "5- ""7" The compositions prepared and the results of the imggg i zaslowskyet "5" May pact sensitivity tests are reported in Table 2 below: 7 5 2 22 5 E- i r a 2 r 7 3,066,170 Ramsden Nov. 27, 1952 1. i T ENS T v TY o" AMMONIUM N TRATE-YELLOW a 1 S I 1 s EXPLOSWES I I v OTHERREFERENCES V McCarty et al.: J. American Chem. Soc.', vol. 73, July sam le weiiit Hei ht 1951 31383143' Example (pgrcent Weight Dmpgped progped Det0mfin* Martin: Journal of Chemical Educ, vol. 36, No. 5, by weight) (grams) (pounds) (inches) (inch- May 1959 p pounds) V V Balance was ammonium nitrate.

What is claimed is: V 1. An explosive comp position of particulate yellow solid, said a mixture of boron hydri tained. by pyrolyzing-dib range from 0 to rangefrom 150 in the pyrolysis zone ositio nitrate and from about 2 to about 22 percent n theweight of the said explosive comyellow solid being des higher than decaborane ob.- orane at a pressure within the p.s.i.g. at a temperature within the of from about I are torme boron hydride the other pyrolysis products. V

' 2. The explosive composition of claim 1 wherein the particle size ofthe s l yellow solid is 3. The explo 100. percent of the said partic of fertilizer grade. 5

aidammonium nitrate and of the said about 8- to about 200 .mesh.

of clalm ate ammonium nitrate is from sive composition References Cited in the file of this patent 11 comprising particulate V C. and with a residence time 1 second to 6 seconds, a whereby products including a mixture of boron hydrides higher than decaborane 1 wherein up to 

1. AN EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION COMPRISING PARTICULATE AMMONIUM NITRATE AND FROM ABOUT 2 TO ABOUT 22 PERCENT BY WEIGHT BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE SAID EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION OF PARTICULATE YELLOW SOLID, SAID YELLOW SOLID BEING A MIXTURE OF BORON HYDRIDES HIGHER THAN DECARBORANE OBTAINED BY PYROLYZING DIBORANE AT A PRESSURE WITHIN THE RANGE FROM 0 TO 100 P.S.I.G. AT A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE FROM 150*C. TO 300*C. AND WITH A RESIDENCE TIME IN THE PYROLYSIS ZONE OF FROM ABOUT 1 SECOND TO 6 SECONDS, WHEREBY PRODUCTS INCLUDING A MIXTURE OF BORON HYDRIDES HIGHER THAN DECARBORANE ARE FORMED, AND SEPARATING THE MIXTURE OF BORON HYDRIDES HIGHER THAN DECARBORANE FROM THE OTHER PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS. 